Man charged in Spokane with promoting suicide

SPOKANE — The unusual charge of promoting a suicide has been filed in Spokane against a man accused of helping a friend kill himself.

Police believe 40-year-old Melvin Alephus Gillespie tied up 38-year-old William P. Pickard in an attempt to make his death last June appear to be a homicide. His body was found under the Sunset Bridge.

The Spokesman-Review reported Pickard had a life insurance policy that would not pay for a suicide.

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